Brendan Kongongolo Simbwaye (1934–1972?) was a Namibian anti-apartheid activist[1] who was president of the Caprivi African National Union (CANU).[2] Simbwaye became the vice-president of the South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) in 1964 after the two organizations merged. Simbwaye's life and political career was cut short in 1972 when he disappeared without trace.
Brendan Kongongolo Simbwaye
MP
Personal details
Born
1934 Ndangamwa Zambezi Region
Died
possibly 1972 after he disappeared from Caprivi (aged 47–48)
Simbwaye was born in 1934 at Ndangamwa, a village near Malindi in the eastern part of Caprivi. He was educated at the Holy Family Mission at Katima Mulilo where he completed Standard 6 Upper in 1955. He furthered his education at Lukulu Teacher Training College in Zambia where he completed a two-year primary education course in 1957. He did Standard 8 by correspondence through Lyceum College, South Africa. Simbwaye was employed as a teacher at the Holy Family Mission in 1957.[3]
Political careeredit
In 1963 Simbwaye resigned from teaching and co-founded CANU with Mishake Muyongo with the purpose of terminating South Africa's hold on the Eastern Caprivi Zipfe. Towards the end of 1963 he left to Lusaka, Zambia to seek support from the United Nations which was then involved in Zambia's transition to independence and to cement ties with the United National Independence Party (UNIP). While in Zambia he made contact with the SWAPO leadership. In early 1964 Simbwaye and Muyongo negotiated the merger of CANU and SWAPO with SWAPO leader Sam Nujoma in Zambia. As a result of the merger he was appointed the Vice-President of SWAPO.[4] Simbwaye returned to Caprivi at the end of March 1964 and was arrested in July when he was about to address the first ever CANU/SWAPO rally at a village near Katima Mulilo. He was charged for leaving the country illegally and for organizing a public meeting without permission from the authorities. He was sentenced to a three months jail term at the Windhoek Central Prison. After his release he was banned from reentering Caprivi without approval from the Minister responsible for Bantu Administration and Development. He was then restricted first to Warmbad and then to Khorixas where he was kept in a small prison.[3]
Death and legacyedit
It is reported that he was charged with terrorist activities in a secret trial in Pretoria in 1970. In 1972 he was allowed to visit Caprivi and disappeared there under unclear circumstances at the time of the visit of the UN representative Escher.[5] Simbwaye was allegedly killed by the South African security forces at Caprivi during his visit in 1972.[3]
A number of entities have been named in his honour:
^Nakale, Albertina (6 December 2018). "Simbwaye springs to life in Mubita's new book". New Era Live. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
^Jeremy, Silvester (13 July 2015). Re-Viewing Resistance in Namibian History. University of Namibia Press. ISBN9789991642277.
^ abcKangumu, Bennett Kangumu (25 August 2006). "Heroism: A Glance at Brendan Kangongolo Simbwaye". New Era.[permanent dead link]
^. Informante.web.na. Archived from the original on 7 September 2017. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
^"Biography". KlausDierks.com. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
^Kooper, Lugeretzia (22 December 2021). "Zambezi road renamed after Brendan Simbwaye". The Namibian. p. 5.
January 01, 1970
brendan, simbwaye, brendan, kongongolo, simbwaye, 1934, 1972, namibian, anti, apartheid, activist, president, caprivi, african, national, union, canu, simbwaye, became, vice, president, south, west, africa, people, organization, swapo, 1964, after, organizatio. Brendan Kongongolo Simbwaye 1934 1972 was a Namibian anti apartheid activist 1 who was president of the Caprivi African National Union CANU 2 Simbwaye became the vice president of the South West Africa People s Organization SWAPO in 1964 after the two organizations merged Simbwaye s life and political career was cut short in 1972 when he disappeared without trace Brendan Kongongolo SimbwayeMPPersonal detailsBorn1934Ndangamwa Zambezi RegionDiedpossibly 1972 after he disappeared from Caprivi aged 47 48 NationalityNamibianPolitical partyCANU SWAPOOccupationPolitician Contents 1 Early life 2 Political career 3 Death and legacy 4 See also 5 ReferencesEarly life editSimbwaye was born in 1934 at Ndangamwa a village near Malindi in the eastern part of Caprivi He was educated at the Holy Family Mission at Katima Mulilo where he completed Standard 6 Upper in 1955 He furthered his education at Lukulu Teacher Training College in Zambia where he completed a two year primary education course in 1957 He did Standard 8 by correspondence through Lyceum College South Africa Simbwaye was employed as a teacher at the Holy Family Mission in 1957 3 Political career editIn 1963 Simbwaye resigned from teaching and co founded CANU with Mishake Muyongo with the purpose of terminating South Africa s hold on the Eastern Caprivi Zipfe Towards the end of 1963 he left to Lusaka Zambia to seek support from the United Nations which was then involved in Zambia s transition to independence and to cement ties with the United National Independence Party UNIP While in Zambia he made contact with the SWAPO leadership In early 1964 Simbwaye and Muyongo negotiated the merger of CANU and SWAPO with SWAPO leader Sam Nujoma in Zambia As a result of the merger he was appointed the Vice President of SWAPO 4 Simbwaye returned to Caprivi at the end of March 1964 and was arrested in July when he was about to address the first ever CANU SWAPO rally at a village near Katima Mulilo He was charged for leaving the country illegally and for organizing a public meeting without permission from the authorities He was sentenced to a three months jail term at the Windhoek Central Prison After his release he was banned from reentering Caprivi without approval from the Minister responsible for Bantu Administration and Development He was then restricted first to Warmbad and then to Khorixas where he was kept in a small prison 3 Death and legacy editIt is reported that he was charged with terrorist activities in a secret trial in Pretoria in 1970 In 1972 he was allowed to visit Caprivi and disappeared there under unclear circumstances at the time of the visit of the UN representative Escher 5 Simbwaye was allegedly killed by the South African security forces at Caprivi during his visit in 1972 3 A number of entities have been named in his honour Brendan Simbwaye Square Building in Windhoek Brendan Simbwaye Primary School in Katima Mulilo NS Brendan Simbwaye a Namibian Navy patrol boat The D3508 in the Kabbe North constituency linking Luhonono to Isize and Namalubi was renamed Brendan Simbwaye Road in 2021 6 See also editList of people who disappearedReferences edit Nakale Albertina 6 December 2018 Simbwaye springs to life in Mubita s new book New Era Live Retrieved 2 November 2019 Jeremy Silvester 13 July 2015 Re Viewing Resistance in Namibian History University of Namibia Press ISBN 9789991642277 a b c Kangumu Bennett Kangumu 25 August 2006 Heroism A Glance at Brendan Kangongolo Simbwaye New Era permanent dead link The facts about Simbwaye Informante web na Archived from the original on 7 September 2017 Retrieved 7 August 2017 Biography KlausDierks com Retrieved 31 March 2019 Kooper Lugeretzia 22 December 2021 Zambezi road renamed after Brendan Simbwaye The Namibian p 5 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Brendan Simbwaye amp oldid 1186765775, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
